Cloth marking drill



Filed April 7, 1954 F'IG.3

INVENTOR. HARRY FLEISHER FIG.2

ATTORNEY CLOTH MAG DRILL Harry Fleisher, Staten Island, N. Y.

Application April 7, 1954, Serial No. 421,479

20 Claims. (Cl. 101-26) The invention herein disclosed relates to cloth marking machines of the type in which a marking needle is caused to penetrate a pile of fabric.

Objects of the invention are to provide a-machine of this character in which the marking may be definitely controlled, for instance as to quantity of marking medium deposited or discharged into the layers of fabric, or to accomplish marking either on the down-stroke or on the tip-stroke of the penetrating needle, or possibly on both strokes or, if desired, to omit marking entirely.

Other special objects or" the invention are to effect an accurately metered pressure feed discharge of marking medium and to assure substantially uniform marking of all the layers penetrated.

Further special objects of the invention are to automatically or manually, if desired, start and stop the flow of marking medium, and particularly to insure complete shut-oft and prevent drip of marking medium.

Other important objects are to prevent clogging or stoppage of the flow of marking material, and particularly to render the needle self-clearing so as not to become.

clogged by loose fibres, dust or other obstructions.

Further objects of the invention are to accomplish the above in a small size, compact, well balanced machine which can be readily handled and used and which will have self-contained means for holding the marking medium conveniently located for easy replenishing.

Other desirable objects attained by the invention and the novel features of construction, combination and relation of ,parts through which the purposes of the invention are accomplished, are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates a present commercial embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be modified and changed as regards the immediate disclosure, all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a front elevational view partly broken away and sectioned to illustrate internal features or construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view .of the lower end of the needle and cleaning wire, appearing -as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged cross sectional detail of the ported end portion of the hollow needleasappearing on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional detail showing the cleaning wire as a flat strip twisted to prevent 'cloggingand impart feeding action to the marking "material.

The machine shown embodies an electric motor 7*su pported on a vertical axis on a stand 8 and having a tubular shaft 9 splined or otherwise slidingly keyed at 10 to an inner tubular shaft 11 rotatably supported on bearings 12 carried by a support 13 slidingly guidedin *the stationary tubular casing 14 which forms a vertical extension of the motor housing.

The inner, vertically operable tubular'shaft orsleeve the hollow marking xneedle :15, the "latter v:shown detach- .ably connected with the lowerend .of this hollow shafting by .a screw :joint '16.

The upper endof .the hollow Lneedleshaft 11 is :shown as sealed rotatably in the sliding -suport.=13'by'an. O-ring seal 17.

A cleaning wireor'rod F18zis'shown -supportedin nonrotatable relation within the hollow needle by-means .of a suspension link 19 hung at'20 from'the lower end of a vertically operable valveelement 21.

This valveelement is vertically operable for the purpose of controlling flow of marking medium down'through the needle, and this vertical movement is utilized .in'ithe present disclosure to operate the rod or wire 18 as :a valve for releasing or closing olfflow of material ,from the penetrating end of the needle.

, This feature is disclosed more fully in Fig. 2, which shows the hollow needle 1521s having an-internal shoulder 22 operable as .a valve seat whenengaged by the lower end of the rod, thus toshut oif flow-of-marking material through discharge ;.port 23 .in-the point of the needle.

When valve 21 :is lifted to release marking medium at the source, thecleaning wire or rod l 'will be similarly raised off the valve shoulder 22 to permit discharge of marking mediumat thepoint of the .needle, and conversely when valve 21 is lowered to stop the how, the cleaning rod or wirewill shut .olf escape and the needle.

Fig. 3 shows on a much enlarged scale how the .dis-

charge port .23 in .theside of the hollow needle may .be

made self-clearing by :indenting or inwardly displacing .the wall portion .24 at the trailing .edgeuof thetdischarge opening direction of .rotation considered, thus to enable the forward wall portion 25 of this opening to operate as a guard for displacing obstructing fibres or .the like outwardly, to leave .the opening clear for outward flow of the marking material.

The marking medium, in more or'less 'fiuid state, is contained and supported, in the illustration, in a cylindrical chamber 26 forming an upward continuation of the sliding support .13, said chamber "being closedby a removable filling cap 27 'having a regulatable vent 28.

Variable pressure feed is provided in the machine illustrated by apump made up of piston 29 operating in cylinder 30 in'the side of'the sliding support and communicating at the inner end with .an upright'chamber 31 in said support which has a valvedpassage 32 at the top in communication with the'reservoir and a valved passage 33 at the .bottom leading to the upperend of the rotary needle carrying splined shaft or sleeve 11. These top and bottompassages are shown as beveledto serve as 'valve seats when engaged by the ,O-ring '34 on the top of movable valve element 21 and O-ring on the bottomof that element.

The upper valve seat member 32. issh'ownas formed in a ring 36 screwed in the upper end of the support 13 and whichimay be adjusted'to-re'gulate the verticallift of the valveelement.

At the topthevalve'element '21 is guided'by a stem 37 extending up through a guide "sleeve 38"ported'in"-the side at'39 to admitmarking'material to the upper valve passage, a spring' ll) acting on 'this'stem to normallyhold the valve downward, closing-the lower valve seat, as'in'dicated in Fig. 1. i

The flow controlling valve element 21 is lifted'against the tension of closingspring 40, in'the illustration/by a piston-like cam 41 sliding in 'a cylindrical guide 42 screwed inthe side of sliding 'supplortlfi, in positionr to enter a-transverse passage"43in the valve element, -"and having an -inc'zlimed upper "surface "44 engaging a "correspondingly inclined top surface 45 in the cross passage 43.

The valve lifting cam 41 is normally retracted by a spring 46 on the outwardly extending stem 47, and a handle 43 on the outer end of this stem provides a means for pushing the cam inwardly to lift the control valve and close off the pressure chamber from. the reservoir.

Operation of the pressure supplying pump is efiected in the illustration by providing the outer end of pump piston 29 with a roller 49 engaged in slot 50 in an upright link 51 supported in fixed relation at one side of the upright column 14.

In the illustration the slotted link is shown supported in downwardly and inwardly inclined relation to etfect inward motion of the piston 29 upon downward movement of the same.

In order that this piston operating cam action be adjustable and, if desired, reversible, the stationary, vertically extending slotted cam link 51 is shown as pivotally mounted at its lower end at 52 on a supporting bracket 53 at the base of stationary column 14,. and as secured at the upper end by an adjustable clamp nut 54 in the horizontally slotted portion 55 of an outstanding bracket 56 attached to the upper end of the column.

On releasing clamp 54 the upper end of slotted cam link 51 may be located in a neutral position where no pumping action will be effected, or to either side of that neutral position where pressure feed will be effected upon downward or upward movement of the movable head structure.

The slidable head carrying the reservoir control valve and pump structure may be moved up and down by using the projecting cylindrical elements 30 and 42 as cross handles, these projecting cylinders operating freely in vertical slots 57, 58 in opposite sides of the supporting and guiding column 14. At such time the hand on the cam guiding cylinder 42 will be in position to press the knob or button 48 inwardly to hold the cam in the control valve opening relation.

A spring 59 is shown seated within the lower portion of the column and serving normally to hold the control head in the upper position shown in Fig. 1, this spring yielding to downward pressure on the cross handles 30, 42.

The container, being located at the top, is readily accessible for supplying fresh marking medium, and this position enables direct short flow connections with the pump, control valve and tubular drive connections to the I hollow needle.

When the machine is standing the control valve is closed, as in Fig. l, and with the construction shown in Fig. 2 the cleaning wire will be in lowered position, closing the outlet in the point of the needle, thus avoiding leakage or drip.

In using the machine as adjusted in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to force the head downwardly by pressure on the cross handles 30, 42, while holding the control button 48 inwardly to maintain control valve in the lifted position, closing off communication at 32 with the supply chamber at the top and opening flow at the bottom, at 33, to the hollow needle carrying sleeve Ill.

In this downward movement the piston 29 will be forced inward in accordance with the inclinationof the cam slot 50 to apply continuous uniform displacement and hence regulated metered flow for an incremental travel of needle through multiple layers of the cloth, thereby to apply substantially uniform marking of desired intensity to the layers of material.

The formation of the outlet in the point of the needle as shown in Fig. 3, with the leading edge of the discharge slot at the outer periphery, and the trailing edge 24 of this opening recessed or indented within the periphery of the needle, avoids all cutting or tearing possibilities and enables the needle to leave a clean, smoothly pressed hole which, as the needle is withdrawn, tends to close, leaving the marking medium about the edge of the hole as the only visible mark or indication. When fluorescent or other normally, invisible marking medium is employed the opening may be unnoticeable to ordinary observation.

In addition to avoiding cutting or tearing of the fibres, the recessed discharge outlet has the effect of directing the marking medium outwardly into the edge of the material surrounding the needle, the inwardly depressed wall portion 24 operating more or less as a battle or with the effect of an inclined paddle to throw the material radially outwardly.

While the piston type pump disclosed provides a simple and practical means for supplying the desired uniform displacement with respect to needle travel, it is contemplated that other type pumps or displacement devices may be employed, such as diaphragm or bellows or gear type pumps.

By adjustment of clamp 54 the stroke and action of the pressure feed displacement pump may be regulated as desired. If no pressure feed is required the pump actuating cam may be set in a neutral relation, and if pressure is to be efiected on the upward stroke the cam may be set to the reverse inclination of that shown in Fig. l.

The cleaning wire 18, while normally desirable for most purposes, may be omitted if not required for some operations. In such case a solid needle may be applied to the lower end of the needle carrying sleeve 11.

The cleaning wire 18 may be round or a flat strip, and in either event may be straight or be given a twist or coil as shown at 61 in Fig. 4 to prevent clogging and add a circulating and feeding effect to the material passing down through the needle.

The locating of the reservoir directly in or on the vertically operating head or sliding support constitutes the machine as a single compact, light weight unit readily portable and conveniently handled and operated. The reservoir, as shown, may be as small in diameter as the support so as to pass down into the guide column without limiting vertical movement of the support.

If the machine is operated with a solid needle the control valve may be left closed and the pump be neutralized by clamping the cam link 51 in the vertical, neutral position.

While for present purposes the tubular form of guide column is preferred, it is realized that the form of this guide and other details of the invention may be varied within the contemplation and scope of the claims.

Other variations are possible. For example, a horizontal shaft motor may be used with a worm or spiral gear form of drive to a vertical shaft having a splined driving engagement with the sleeve carrying the needle. The cleaning may be effected by a form of wound spring or twisted wire of rectangular or square cross-section to act either as an additional aid to feeding or possibly to oppose somewhat the positive material flow, thereby eliminating uncontrolled feed due to expansion of fluid or gases within the needle proper. The entire length or only the upper or lower end ofthe cleaning wire may be helixed.

It'is contemplated that for some purposes the reservoir may be mounted separately and connected with the actuating slide by flexible tubing. Also, it is considered that the valve instead of being arbitrarily controllable, may be automatically operated, as by downward pressure on the lowering handle or handles.

What is claimed is:

l. Cloth marking drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollow marking needle connected with the lower end of said sleeve, a hollow driving shaft surrounding and having sliding driving engagement with said sleeve, a marking medium container on said slide and means on said slide between said container and the upper end of said sleeve for effecting and controlling flow of marking medium from the container into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide, including a vertically shiftable pump mounted on said slide and connected between the container and sleeve and actuating means for the same operable by vertical movements of the slide, said actuating means including a relatively stationary vertically extending cam and a connection extending from the vertically shiftable pump into operative engagement with said cam.

2. Cloth marking drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollow marking needle connected with the lower end of said sleeve, a hollow driving shaft surrounding and having sliding driving engagement with said sleeve, a marking medium container on said slide and means onsaid slide between said container and the upper end of said sleeve for effecting and controlling flow of marking medium from the container into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide, includinga vertically shiftable pump mounted on said slide and connected between the container and sleeve and actuating means for the same operable by vertical movements of "the slide, said actuating means including a relatively stationary vertically extending cam and a connection extending from the vertically shiftable pump into operativeengagement with said cam, and means supporting saidvcam adjustable toward and away from the guide to thereby determine operation of the pump in the vertical movements of the slide.

3. Cloth marking drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollow marking needle connected with the lower end of said sleeve, a hollow driving shaft surrounding andhaving sliding driving engagement with said, sleeve, a marking medium container on said slide and means on said slide between said container and the upper end of said sleeve for effecting and controlling flow of marking medium from the container into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide, including a vertically shiftable valve element and a wire hung from said valve element and extending down into the hollow needle, said needle having an internal shoulder opposed to the lower end of said wire and whereby said wire may operate with valving eifect in-respect to said shoulder in the lifting and lowering of said vertically shiftable valve element.

4. Cloth marking drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollow marking needle connected with the lower end of said sleeve, a hollow driving shaft surrounding and having sliding driving engagement with said sleeve, a marking medium container on said slide and means on said slide between said container and the upper end of said sleeve for effecting and controlling flow of marking medium from the container into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide, said needle having a marking medium delivery opening in the side of the same with a leading edge, direction of rotation considered, approximately at the periphery of the needle and a trailing edge displaced radially inwardly from the periphery away from contact with the material being pierced and providing free unobstructed clearance for outfiowing medium.

5. A rotary hollow cloth marking needle having a cloth piercing point and a marking medium delivery opening in the side of the same near the point, provided with a longitudinally disposed leading edge in the direction of rotation, substantially at the periphery of the needle and -6 a .tra il ing edge displaced radially inwardly inside .the leading edge,jleaving' tangential clearance for exiting me- ,dium and avoiding contact withmaterial' being pierced bythe needle.

6." Cloth marking, drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollowmarking needle connected .with the lowerend of said sleeve, a. hollowdriving shaft surrounding and' having sliding driving engagement .With said sleeve, a marking medium container on top of said slide and means on said slide between said container and the upper end of said sleeve for, efiecting and controlling fiowof. marking medium from 'thecontainer into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide including a valve shiftable vertically to control flowand a wire suspended from said valve in non-rotating relation in said hollow needle.

7. Cloth marking drill comprising an upright guide, a slide confined to'non-rotating vertical movement on said guide, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably connected with and vertically movable with said slide, a cloth piercing hollow'marking needle connected with the lower end of said sleeve,,a hollow driving shaft surrounding and having sliding driving engagement with said sleeve, a marking medium container on top ofsaid slide and means on said slide .between said container and the upper end of said sleeve forefiecting and controlling flow of. marking medium from the container into said needle carrying sleeve in the vertical movements of the slide on the guide including a valve shiftable vertically to control flow and a wire suspended from said valve in non-rotating relation in said hollow needle, said wire having .a screw twist formation directioned to controltfiow'of marking medium in the hollow needle.

8. Cloth marking drill comprising a stationary motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, an upwardly projecting stationa'ryhollow column on the motor concentric withthe shaft, asupport guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidahly keyed injdriven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected'to the lower endlof said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on top of the support, said support having a flow passage from said containerto the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up anddown movement to said support in the column.

9. Cloth marking drill comprising a stationary motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, an upwardlyprojecting stationary hollow column on the motor concentric With the shaft, a support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outletin the side of the same, a con-t tainer for marking medium on top of the support, said support'having a flowpassage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on top of the support, said support having a How passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up and down movement to said support in the column and means for automatically applying feed pressure to medium passing from the container to the needle carrying sleeve.

'11. Cloth marking drill comprising a stationary motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, an upwardly projecting stationary hollow column on the motor concentric with the shaft, a support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on top of the support, said support having a flow passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up and down movement to said support in the column, outstanding brackets at upper and lower ends of the column, a cam link pivotally supported at one end on one of said brackets and adjustably secured at the other end to the other link, and a pressure feed pump connected with said how passage and having an actuating element operatively engaged with said cam link.

12. Cloth marking drill comprising a motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, a stationary hollow column on the motor concentric with the shaft, a support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on the support, said support having a flow passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up and down movement to said support in the column, said container being mounted in accessible relation on top of the support and being of a size to enter the column so as not to limit movement of the support down in the column.

13. Cloth marking drill comprising a motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, a stationary hollow column on the motor concentric with the shaft, a support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a. needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on the support, said support having a flow passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up and down movement to said support in the column, said valving means including a valve chamber having a port at the top opening to the container and a port at the bottom opening to the sleeve, a valve element in said chamber shiftable upwardly to close the top port and open the bottom port and shiftable downwardly to close the bottom port and open the top port, spring means for normally holding said valve seated in the lower relation and hand controlled means for effecting lifting of said valve element.

14. Cloth marking drill comprising a motor having an upright hollow drive shaft, a stationary hollow column on the motor concentric with the shaft, 21 support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said nonrotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet in the side of the same, a container for marking medium on the support, said support having a flow passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, controllable valving means in said passage and means for imparting up and down movement to said support in the column, said valving means including a valve chamber having a port at the top opening to the container and a port at the bottom opening to the sleeve, a valve element in said chamber shiftable upwardly to close the top port and open the bottom port and shiftable downwardly to close the bottom port and open the top port, spring means for normally holding said valve seated in the lower relation and hand controlled means for efiecting lifting of said valve element, a feed pressure supplying pump connected in said flow passage between the upper and lower ports of the valve chamber and means for automatically actuating said pump in the movement of the support in the column.

15. Cloth marking machine comprising an upright guide, a vertically operating support on said guide, a hollow marking needle connected with said support and vertically operable by movements of said support on said guide, a marking medium container connected with said vertically operable support, means on said support for effecting and controlling flow of marking medium from the container into said needle including a vertically shiftable valve element and a wire hung from said valve element and extending down into the hollow needle, said needle having an internal shoulder opposed to the lower end of said wire and whereby said wire may operate with valving effect in respect to said shoulder in the lifting and lowering of said vertically shiftable valve element.

16. Cloth marking machine comprising an upright guide column, a support vertically slidable in said column, a pump cylinder projecting from one side of said support and a guide cylinder projecting from the other side of said support, said column being slotted for passage of said cylinders, said support having a valve chamber opening downwardly therethrough, a valve vertically shiftable in said chamber to control passage of marking medium from above to below the support, a plunger operable in the guide cylinder to effect lifting of said valve element, the pump cylinder being connected at the inner end with the valve chamber, a plunger operable in said pump cylinder, vertically extending cam means engaged with the outer end of said pump plunger for effecting actuation of the same in vertical movements of the support, a hollow cloth marking needle connected with the lower end of the support and a marking medium container connected with the upper end of the support.

17. Cloth marking machine comprising an upright guide column, a support vertically slidable in said column, a pump cylinder projecting from one side of said support and a guide cylinder projecting from the other side of said support, said column being slotted for passage of said cylinders, said support having a valve chamber opening downwardly therethrough, a valve vertically shiftable in said chamber to control passage of marking medium from above to below the support, a plunger operable in the guide cylinder to efiect lifting of said valve element, the pump cylinder being connected at the inner end with the valve chamber, a plunger operable in said pump cylinder, vertically extending cam means engaged with the outer end of said pump plunger for effecting actuation of the same in vertical movements of the support, a hollow cloth marking needle connected with the lower end of the support and a container for marking medium on the top of said support and directly connected with said valve chamber.

18. Cloth marking drill comprising a stationary motor, an upright hollow drive shaft operated thereby, upwardly projecting stationary concentric hollow column about said hollow drive shaft, a support guided for non-rotating vertical movement in said column, a needle carrying sleeve rotatably supported in said non-rotating support and slidably keyed in driven relation to said shaft, a hollow needle connected to the lower end of said sleeve, said needle having a cloth piercing point provided with a marking medium delivery outlet, a container for marking medium on top of the support, said support having a flow passage from said container to the upper end of said needle carrying sleeve, a valve means for closing off the upper end of said passage, pump means operable in the vertical movement of said support for applying regulated pressure to the marking medium in said passage to the needle carrying sleeve and means for imparting up and down movement to the support in said column to thereby deliver metered flow of marking medium into the needle carrying sleeve in vertical movement of the support in the column.

19. The invention according to claim 18 with said container constituting part of said vertically operable support and said valve means including a reversely movable valve element and valve seats engageable thereby to close off communication between the container and passage and to close off communication between said passage and the needle carrying sleeve.

20. The invention according to claim 18 with mechanism for actuating said pump means and adjustable to effect operation of the pump from zero to maximum in either the up or down movement of the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,399 Christophel July 29, 1930 2,118,718 White May 24, 1938 2,135,228 Wolkan Nov. 1, 1938 2,199,822 Hill May 7, 1940 2,227,254 Glassberg Dec. 31, 1940 2,466,293 Alcamo Apr. 5, 1949 2,582,854 Smith Jan. 15, 1952 2,619,031 Rothenborg Nov. 25, 1952 2,681,003 Rossi June 15, 1954 

